How to get smoke smell out of clothes:
- 1. Soak the smoky clothes in baking soda and water
- 2. Machine-wash the clothes with enzyme-based laundry pod
- 3. Add a cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle
- 4. Air dry the clothes outside, ideally in direct sunlight
Whether it’s a night out at the bar or a weekend camping trip, the smell of smoke has a way of clinging to your clothes like a desperate ex. Fabrics, especially natural fibers like silk, cotton, and wool have tiny gaps between fibers where microscopic smoke particles wedge themselves in. Once they’re trapped, those particles can linger for days, even weeks, unless you evict them with the right strategy.
Smoke odor is stubborn, but it’s not permanent. With the right mix of soaking, washing, and airing out, you can kick that smell to the curb. Here’s the step-by-step method that works on cigarette smoke, weed smoke, cigars, or last night’s bonfire.
Pro tip: Always check the care label on your garment before trying any new cleaning methods.
1. Soak the Clothes in Baking Soda and Water
Before you wash, start with a pre-soak. Baking soda is one of the best natural odor neutralizers—it balances out the acidic particles from smoke and pulls them out of the fabric.
Fill a sink or basin with lukewarm water and dissolve in one cup of baking soda. Submerge your smoky clothes and let them soak for at least an hour. For stronger odors, leave them overnight. This step sets you up for success before you even hit “start” on the washing machine.
2. Machine-Wash the Clothes with Enzyme-Based Laundry Pods
After the soak, it’s time to get serious. Ordinary laundry detergent won’t cut it—especially if you’re dealing with marijuana or cigar smoke, which have heavy, oily compounds that cling hard to fabric.
What you need is an enzyme-based formula. Enzymes break down those organic odor-causing molecules so your clothes come out truly fresh, not just perfumed over.
That’s where Laundry Sauce comes in. Our detergent pods don’t just fight the funk—they annihilate it. Each one packs up 4x the cleaning power of traditional liquid detergents, powered by bio-enzymes designed to target stubborn organic odors.
And once the smoke is gone, your clothes are infused with Laundry Sauce’s premium fragrances: Australian Sandalwood, Mojave Peach, French Saffron, and more.
No matter what your care tag says, these must-haves keep your clothes looking and smelling their best—minus the guesswork.
3. Add Vinegar During the Rinse Cycle
Smoke residue has alkaline compounds that vinegar’s acidity neutralizes on contact. Halfway through the wash—when your machine hits the rinse cycle—add one cup of distilled white vinegar directly into the drum. Pause the cycle and let your clothes soak for about an hour before finishing the rinse.
Don’t panic—your clothes won’t come out smelling like a salad. The vinegar scent dissipates quickly, and what you’re left with is fabric that smells clean and ready to take on your detergent’s fragrance.
4. Air Dry Outside in Sunlight
Skip the dryer this time. Heat can actually bake any lingering smoke particles deeper into the fibers. Instead, hang your clothes outside in direct sunlight if possible. Fresh air disperses odor molecules, and the sun’s UV rays act as a natural disinfectant, breaking down what’s left.
If you don’t have outdoor space, hang your clothes near an open window or in a well-ventilated area.
Pro tip: add a dryer sheet to help fight static and leave your clothes scented with one of our elevated fragrances like Australian Sandalwood, Indonesian Patchouli, or Egyptian Rose.
How to Get Smoke Smell Out of Clothes Without Washing Them
Whether you’re in a hurry or just too lazy to do your laundry, here are a few ways to get smoke smell out of your clothes without actually washing them. Keep in mind, these tricks probably won’t be as effective as a thorough cleansing with water and laundry detergent—but they can work in a pinch.
1. Fabric Refresher Spray
This is the fastest way to refresh smoky clothes. Laundry Sauce Fabric Refresher Spray neutralizes odor molecules instead of masking them, then layers in our premium fragrances.
2. Hang Them Outside
A couple of hours in sunlight and fresh air does wonders. Just avoid bright sun for delicates like silk or wool.
3. Sprinkle Baking Soda
Dust your smoky garment with baking soda before bed. Shake it out in the morning and the odor goes with it.
4. Steam Treatment
Hang your clothes in a steamy bathroom for 15-20 minutes, then let them air dry. The steam can help loosen and lift the smoke odors from the fabric.
5. Activated Charcoal
Place some activated charcoal in a container with your clothes. It might look like something out of a science experiment, but it can work wonders at sucking up those stubborn smoke smells.
Common Questions About Getting Smoke Smell Out of Clothes
Here are the answers to the most common “but what if…” questions we get about banishing smoke smell from clothes.
Is Smoke Smell Permanent on Clothes?
No. While smoke is stubborn, the right combo of soaking, enzyme-based detergent, vinegar, and sunlight will remove it completely.
What Neutralizes Smoke Smell?
Baking soda, vinegar, and laundry pods are your heavy hitters. Fresh air and UV light also help neutralize leftover odors.
How to Get Weed Smell Out of Clothes
Weed smoke is particularly sticky because of the oils in cannabis resin. Enzyme-based detergents like Laundry Sauce pods break down those compounds so your clothes smell clean again.
How to Get Cigarette Smell Out of Clothes
Follow the four-step method above. For faster fixes, a fabric refresher spray or dryer sheet can mask the odor until you have time to do a proper wash.
Smoke Is No Match for Laundry Sauce
Let’s be honest: The scents from generic laundry detergents aren’t much of an upgrade from the smell of smoke. That’s why we created Laundry Sauce: the world’s best-smelling laundry detergent pods.
Each pod is concentrated with up to 4x more cleaning power than traditional liquid laundry detergent and enriched with bio-enzymes to tackle tough stains and musty odors. And when you pair them with our fabric refresher sprays or dryer sheets, even the smokiest hoodie doesn’t stand a chance.
